IPL 2021: ‘Don’t think Kolkata Knight Riders are going to miss Pat Cummins,’ believes Aakash Chopra


IPL 2021: ‘Don’t think Kolkata Knight Riders are going to miss Pat Cummins,’ believes Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra and Pat Cummins

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has commented that the unavailability of Pat Cummins won’t affect Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the remaining leg of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. He suggested that the presence of speedster Lockie Ferguson will compensate for the absence of the Australian cricketer. 

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According to Australian media, Pat Cummins is set to miss the remaining matches of IPL 2021 scheduled in the UAE. 

“KKR already have Lockie Ferguson. And in my opinion, if you have to pick one of them just as a T20 bowler, I will pick Lockie Ferguson ahead of him (Cummins). If Lockie is available and plays, it is absolutely fine. I don’t think they are going to miss Pat Cummins the bowler,” said Chopra.

‘Cummins had a below-par performance during IPL 2020 in UAE’

The cricketer-turned-commentator highlighted that Pat Cummins had a below-average season during the previous edition which took place in the Emirates. The 28-year old had picked just 12 wickets in 14 games and failed to justify his price tag of whopping INR 15.5 crores. This year also, Cummins had only nine wickets in seven matches against his name at a poor economy rate of almost nine runs per over.

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“His (Cummins’) performance has not been great as a bowler. If we talk about last year, he took just 12 wickets in 14 matches, and that was in the UAE, where the remaining matches will be played. The economy was okay, less than eight. This year also, he took only nine wickets in seven matches, and he was more expensive as well, almost nine runs per over,” he added.

Aakash Chopra further suggested that England quick Mark Wood could be the replacement for Cummins. He reckoned that the English cricketer could be a great addition to the Knight Riders squad if he makes himself available for IPL 2021.

“It could be Mark Wood. He is up there in my mind. He bowls very well; last time he had made himself unavailable, but if this time he makes himself available, then Mark Wood will be my option for the Kolkata Knight Riders,” Chopra said.

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